Clinical Counselors and the Internet: A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the Internet on the Counseling Profession

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory dissertation was to gather data regarding information technology and the internet as it related to clinical counselors. The findings have the potential to add to the sparse information base regarding use of technology and the internet in clinical counseling practice. The data for this dissertation was collected by surveying a national sample of 534 clinical counselors who were recruited from state clinical counseling organizations. The survey instrument was done on-line and disseminated via the internet. Of those recruited, 215 counselors were used in the final data analysis. The survey instrument was designed to assess a) the extent to which counselors are knowledgeable of computer technologies, b) the extent to which their clients make use of the internet, and c) the extent to which they believe computer technology contributes to their professional practice.

The study found that clinical counselors in this sample rate themselves highly in terms of internet competence and their knowledge of information technologies. However, despite these high rates of knowledge, counselors are not implementing the internet in their counseling practices at very high rates. This research suggests that clients are increasingly becoming more internet savvy and are using the internet in their own mental health research. As such, counselors need to begin to implement internet components into their practice when appropriate.